Hard from W6? Try from the Pacific. In nearly 6 years total in KH2, I have never heard SV/A on any band, at any signal level. Usually I see him choosing some band/mode combination that is impossible for anyone but EU to work, such as 80m RTTY. The few times he has been on a band/mode combination when there is propagation from the Pacific, I hear nothing while other SV and I stations are loud. This is with a station that made 6K plus QSOs in the last WW DX SSB and WW DX CW contest. Meanwhile, I've heard both his huge Eastern EU pileup and JA pileup at the same time - both areas much closer along the path than I am. I have written off ever working this entity from here.

I've only ever been able to work him a couple times from the East Coast - even from there it is a challenge. To give him some credit, I've never had a problem getting those couple QSOs confirmed.

I listened to the video on DX-World.net and granted I don't know what band it was, but I didn't hear much out of zone 15 getting worked. Maybe a DL or 2 and a LZ. The funny thing is there could be a huge dxpedition from SV/A and there would still be big demand for SV/A after they left.

I have come to the conclusion that the only thing I need is luck. Like being able to hear him call CQ. By the time he has been spotted my chances go to nil. I might as well try to work him in afterlife.

You don't need to be loud to work stations with big pileups. Sometimes, you just need be lucky. It certainly helps to practice--one way to practice is to get your QRP DXCC. You could make it doubly difficult by only working stations with big pileups. I was particularly pleased at working JY8KG--my only contact with the Colvins, on 20M SSB running QRP--despite an enormous pileup.

I'm just pointing out that it isn't impossible to work station through a wall of stronger stations--a few weaker stations can get lucky and make it though a huge pileup. Of course, if the pileup is so intimidating that you stay one the sidelines--then it is obvious you can't make the contact. I did find that when I was making lots of QRP DX contacts, technique became very important. I remember operating at QRO with a big W3GM and having a station point out that I wasn't calling him on the right 40M SSB frequency--but it didn't matter because I was so loud (I didn't quite spin the dial fast enough when he turned it over for callers) In this case I got away with inferior technique and still got a valid contest contact.

Aeronautical Mobile at 3:00 am with a 2000 watt amp and an RTTY set up on board the aircraft!..... ....Good luck.....as for this quote: "Getting someone to ask the DX to listen for you is about as bad as working him on a net".......Irony can be bretty ironic sometimes!... .......

Aeronautical Mobile at 3:00 am with a 2000 watt amp and an RTTY set up on board the aircraft!..... ....Good luck.....as for this quote: "Getting someone to ask the DX to listen for you is about as bad as working him on a net".......Irony can be bretty ironic sometimes!... .......

Except that being /AM wouldn't count for DXCC

Logged

www.facebook.com/W2IRTNight gathers and now my watch begins. It shall not end until I reach Top of the Honor Roll.

If you want to work SV2ASP/A from anywhere, you must find him and work him before the cluster hordes arrive. That requires two things:

1. knowing where and when he is likely to show up

2. knowing when you're likely to have a reasonable opening (there's no point monitoring a band that's not likely to be open)

Monk Apollo tends to be active in bursts. If he's QRV one day, there's a good chance he'll be QRV the next. Keep track of when and where he's first spotted and how long he stays, paying attention to the day-of-the-week. His work assignments do change, but if you look for him at the times and places he's previously been QRV, you'll increase your chances of getting a pre-horde opportunity. If one or more fellow DXers also need a QSO with SV2ASP, you can work together to find him, further increasing your chances; whatever you do, don't spot him until you and your friends all have good QSOs in the log.

I specifically designed DXLab to help work "difficult" DX like SV2ASP/A: its Spot Database automatically maintains a history of when, where, and for how long a needed DX station has been QRV, and it includes the ability to predict and monitor HF propagation.

Finally heard SV/A on 20m LP today - not strong by any means - but for the 1st time ever. Half of Japan and Oceania (VK/ZL) were calling. He was working only IK's and other EU. Must be nice to be your own DXCC country.

I just worked Monk Apollo at 10:20 today on 10 RTTY .Theres no info on his QRZ page about what should accompany a QSL card..should I send an IRC or Green Stamps (and how much would you recommend).73sNorman G4AYU

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